Pharmacist Mark Roberts, behind counter, fills out paperwork for Bridgeport resident Ryszard Cyganowski to have his flu shot at the CVS drug store on East Main Street in Bridgeport, Conn. on Thursday September 29, 2011. less

Pharmacist Mark Roberts, behind counter, fills out paperwork for Bridgeport resident Ryszard Cyganowski to have his flu shot at the CVS drug store on East Main Street in Bridgeport, Conn. on Thursday September ... more

Linda Jones typically heads to her doctor's office every year to get a flu shot. But this year was different. Jones, a Bridgeport resident, was at the CVS drug store at 2610 East Main St. in Bridgeport when she saw signs advertising speedy flu shots at the store.

Soon, she was rolling up her sleeve to allow pharmacist Mark Roberts to administer the shot. "I thought it was nice that I could come in here, get the flu shot, then walk right out the door," Jones said. "I figure it's quicker to do it this way than to wait at the doctor's office."

More stores giving shots

Jones isn't the only one opting to get vaccinated in the same place she buys paper plates and snack foods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a doctor's office was the most popular place to receive a vaccination during the 2010-2011 flu season, but stores -- including drug stores and supermarkets -- were the second most popular choice, followed by workplaces.

The CDC analyzed 36,581 responses collected from 46 states and Washington, D.C. between January and March to determine where people were receiving their vaccinations. The data showed that 39.8 percent of those vaccinated against influenza received their shot in a doctor's office, 18.4 percent were vaccinated at a store, and 17.4 percent received their shot at work.

The main quality that pharmacy flu shots offer is convenience, said Edith Rosato, senior vice president of pharmacy affairs for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, which represents 137 drug store chains nationwide. "At the end of the day, consumers want easy access to health care, which is what we provide," she said.

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all people six months and older. Vaccination is especially important for some groups -- including health-care workers, those with chronic medical conditions, those aged 50 older and those younger than 2 years old -- because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.

Drug store pharmacies have offered flu shots for roughly 15 years, but the practice became more widespread after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, Rosato said. During the pandemic, she said, citizens flocked to get shots, hoping to avoid H1N1 influenza. According to the CDC, the strain ultimately infected anywhere from 43 million to 89 million people between April 2009 and April 2010, and led to thousands of deaths.

"It was quite an incident," Rosato said. "There was a lot of fear out there and a lot of uncertainty."

People wanted to get a shot as soon as possible, and stores were a good option, she said. Many drug store pharmacies are open 24 hours a day. Customers don't need an appointment to get a shot, and there's often no wait to get the vaccination.

CVS offers flu shots at all 140 of its Connecticut stores, and is one of many chain stores that provide the vaccinations. Walgreens offers the shots at all 90 of its Connecticut locations and Target provides the services at all 20 of its pharmacy locations. Other stores to offer the vaccines include Stop & Shop, which has 75 pharmacies in Connecticut, many of which provide flu shots.

How much?

The prices of in-store vaccinations can be anywhere from $5 to more than $30, Rosato said. CVS's out-of-pocket cost is $29.99, for instance, while Walgreens's is $31.99 and Target's is $25 or $36, depending on whether you opt for a shot or the more expensive nasal mist vaccine. However, many stores said their vaccines are covered by most forms of insurance.

Some stores also offer special deals to help make the shots more appealing. For instance, Stop & Shop has partnered with various health vendors to offer a free coupon book worth $20 in savings to customers who receive a flu shot. CVS offers a $5 coupon to those who don't have insurance.

Joyce Carter, 50, of Bridgeport, was thankful that her insurance covered the flu shot she received at the East Main Street CVS. Carter said she decided to try an in-store shot after seeing signs advertising the service posted throughout the store. Like Jones, she typically gets the shot at her doctor's office. However, last year, she got sick following the vaccination and wanted to try something new. CVS seemed like a good option. "It was right here and it was convenient," Carter said.

Peak flu season coming

Flu activity most commonly peaks in January or February, but it can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May.

Thus, the CDC recommends getting a vaccine as soon as it is available. So far, it looks like there will be enough vaccines to go around this season, said Michelle Marichal, manager of health promotions and public policy for the American Lung Association of New England's Connecticut office. The association provides information on the flu and flu vaccines throughout the season.

Ultimately, Marichal said, where you get your shot doesn't matter that much, as long as you protect yourself from the flu. "You just don't want to get the flu," she said. "Nobody wants to stay home with fever, muscle aches and the rest. And you might be spreading the flu before you even know you have it. If you get the shot, you can avoid all that."